Weaving method and pneumatic loom



June 21, 1966 E. w. HORTMANN WEAVING METHOD AND PNEUMATIC LOOM 6Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 24. 1962 INVEN TOR Era-.4 (116M flaw/m MM Jam,

ATTORNEY June 21, 1966 w. HORTMANN WEAVING METHOD AND PNEUMATIC LOOM 6Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 24, 1962 June 21, 1966 E. w. HORTMANN WEAVINGMETHOD AND PNEUMATIC LOOM 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 24. 1962 ATTORNEYJune 21; 1966 E. w. HORTMANN 3,256,914

WEAVING METHOD AND PNEUMATIC LOOM 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 24. 1962June 21, 1966 E- w. HORTMANN WEAVING METHOD AND PNEUMATIC LOOM 6Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 24, 1962 INVENOR. 17k U4 (for h f n ll-Lad fr-7'42 w w\ 6R Isl x Q N \w June 21, 1966 E. w. HORTMANN 3,256,914

WEAVING METHOD AND PNEUMATIC LOOM Filed Dec. 24, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 E75 V i 54 J7 9'/ I 4' a1 J9 FIG/5 "VIII/I" United States Patent 3256,914 WEAVING METHOD AND PNEUMATIC LOOM Erich Walter Hortmann,Schotten, Germany, assignor to Albert Hortmann, Schotten, Germany FiledDec. 24, 1962, Ser. No. 250,200 Claims priority, application Germany,Dec. 22, 1961,

H 44,469 9 Claims. (Cl. 139-125) The present invention relates to aweaving method, and to a pneumatic loom for carrying out the method ofthe invention.

Pneumatic looms are known in which a weft thread is drawn from a spindlepackage and blown by a stream of air through a warp shed. Suction isapplied to the other side of the thread, but it is diflicult totransport the weft through the shed without occasional disturbances. Inshuttleless pneumatic looms of this type, the weft is cut off at theedge of the shed, so that no selvedges are formed.

It is one object of the invention to overcome disadvantages of knownpneumatic looms, and of methods for operating pneumatic looms, and toprovide a method for operating a pneumatic loom in a reliable andefiicient manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pneumatic loomof simple construction which produces a woven fabric provided withselvedges.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pneumatic loom in whicha shuttle carries a measured length of weft thread.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pneumatic loomwith a dispensing device dispensing measured lengths of weft threadcorresponding to the width of the woven fabric.

Another object of the present invention is to dispense a measured lengthof weft thread corresponding to twice the width of the fabric so that ashuttle transporting the measured length of Weft thread through twosheds, lays two wefts.

With these objects in view, a weaving method according to the presentinvention comprises the steps of dispensing a measured length of weftthread from a supply of weft threadlocated on one side of a warp shed;blowing at least a part of the measured length of the weft thread into ahollow shuttle; moving the shuttle from one side of the shed to theother side of the shed while holding the weft thread on one side of theshed so that a portion of the measured length forms a weft in the shed;and cutting the weft thread on said one side.

The dispensed and measured length of weft thread corresponds to twicethe width of the warp shed, and the shuttle is moved in return movementthrough another shed so that the part of the weft located in the shuttleis drawn out of the shuttle and forms another weft in another shed.

A double length of weft thread may be blown into the shuttle, and drawnout during travel of the shuttle in opposite directions through twosheds.

The weft thread is inserted into the shuttle by means of a nozzle whichis spaced from the edge of the fabric, so that a piece of weft threadextends between the nozzle and the cutting means after the weft threadhas been cut. Preferably, the cut off end piece of the Weft thread isretracted to the nozzle so that the nozzle is ready for insertion ofanother measured length of weft thread into a shuttle.

The dispensing operation which is effected by a dispensing device maystill be carried out while the shuttle travels the first time through ashed.

The dispensing of the measured length of weft thread, and the insertioninto the shuttle is preferably carried out at the same time.

In a modified embodiment of the invention, the measured length of weftthread is first blown into a storage means, and then blown from thestorage means into the shuttle. In this embodiment, the dispensingdevice is preferably mounted on the frame of the shuttle, and connectedwith a nozzle by a flexible hose. In another embodiment, the dispensingdevice is mounted on the slay of the loom.

The start of the dispensing operation, and the start of the blowing ofthe weft thread by the nozzle, is controlled by a sensing means whichdetremine thearrival of an empty shuttle in the region of the nozzle.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinveniton itself, however,'both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a loom accordingto one embodiment of the invention as seen from one side;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a shuttle;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the shuttle;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the dispensingdevice as seen from the other side of the loom;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation illustrating the dispensing device in anoperational position at the end of a dispensing operation;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation corresponding to FIG. 5, but illustratinganother operational position of the dispensing device at the end of anoperation withdrawing a part of the weft thread;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view, partially in section, illustrating adetail of a weft inserting nozzle;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view illustrating a modified shuttle;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the shuttle illustrated in FIG. 8;

FIG.10 is a perspective view, partially in section illustrating theinsertion of a weft thread into the shuttle;

FIG. 11 is a schematic side elevation illustrating one side of a loomaccording to a modified embodiment in the operational position directlyafter the beat of the reed;

FIG. 12 is a schematic side elevation illustrating the loom of FIG. 11as viewed from the other side, and in the same operational position;

FIG. 13 is a front view of the dispensing device used in the embodimentof FIGS. 11 and 12;

FIG. 14 is'a fragmentary, partially sectional view, illustrating amechanism for winding up the spring-loaded dispensing device of FIG. 13;and

FIG. 15 is a plan view illustrating another embodiment of a shuttleaccording to the present invention.

The drawings illustrate a basically conventional loom with two shuttleboxes on either side, which is adapted according to the presentinvention to operate with two shuttles of which one has its startingposition in the upper left shuttle box, and the other has its startingposition in the right upper shuttle box, the two shuttles travelingalternately to the lower right and to the lower left shuttle box,respectively, to change the weft color accordingto a 1:1 or 2:2 program.In accordance with the invention, the shuttles do not carry bobbins, buteach shuttle is supplied with a measured length of weft threadsuflicient for two picks, and consequently corresponding to twice thewidth of the woven fabric. At least a part of the weft required for thesecond pick is inserted into each shuttle while the same is on one sideof the loom, while the length of weft required for the first pick, maybe dragged by the shuttle, or supplied during the travel of the shuttlethrough the first shed. However, if the shuttles stay sufiiciently longon one side of the loom, as will be the case during a 2:2 weavingoperation, the entire length of weft thread necessary for two picks willbe deposited in the shuttle.

It is also possible to charge the shuttle with part of the weft thread,start the travel of the shuttle to the other side of the shed, and tosupply the rest of the necessary length of weft thread during the travelof the shuttle through the first shed.

At the moment in which a shuttle arrives in its initial position, ameasured length of weft thread is blown into the shuttle by a nozzle.For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a weft thread 27 passes through anozzle 5 mounted on a support and guide plate 67 and supplied with airunder pressure from a tubular connection 3, 65. As shown in FIG. 10, thenozzle 5 blows the weft thread into an opening 41 on the side of ahollow shuttle.

A dispensing device is provided for drawing the weft thread from aspindle package 33 or 34 connected by a thread 35, and for dispensing ameasured length of weft thread to the nozzle. When the weft has beeninserted, it is cut off at the edge of the fabric by a cutting means 51,and the dispensing device is operated to pull back the dispensed threada distance corresponding to the distance between the nozzle 5, see FIG.1, and the cutting means 51, shown in FIG. 4, so that the end of thethread is located at the nozzle, and can be properly inserted into ashuttle during a following inserting operation.

FIGS. 1, 4, Sand 7 illustrate one embodiment of the invention in whichthe nozzle 5 is mounted on the upper shuttle box, and in which thedispensing devicewith the measuring drum 1 is mounted on the slay bymeans of a base plate 64. The pressure air is supplied to nozzle 5 bybellows 21 in a timed relation to the shuttle operation so that air issupplied to nozzle 5 at the moment in which a weft thread has beendispensed and is to be inserted or blown into the shuttle.

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 4, 5 and 6, the dispensing device includes aturnable drum 1, which is conical for adjustment of the dispensed lengthof the thread, and which has a rubber cover 2. An adjustable threadguide 6, a pressure roller 8, a guide means 66 for the thread,adjustable on a holder 44, and a thread guide 4 are provided as alsoshown in FIG. 12.

A spring motor drives the dispensing device and includes a springhousing 43 with a main spring 52 which is intermittently wound up. Awinding lever 49 is secured to a pulley 76 mounted freely turnable onshaft 78 and having a bracket 77 carrying a ratchet pawl 7, as best seenin FIGS. 13 and 14. During reciprocation of the slay, lever 49 runsagainst roller 50 on the breast beam of the loom and is angularlydisplaced in clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 14. A band 79 issecured to pulley 76 by a screw 76a and also to a wind-up spring 46 sothat the same is tensioned during the clockwise stroke of lever 49. Aratchet 75 is secured to shaft 78 to which main spring 52 is attached,and prevented from turning in clockise direction by a locking pawl 75a.When lever 49 separates from roller 50, spring 46 turns lever 49 incounterclockwise direction so that pawl 7 turns ratchet 75 with shaft 78and main spring 52 to wind up the main spring, unless the latter istensioned so highly that the force of wind up spring 46 is insufiicientto turn shaft 78, in which event lever 49 remains in its Wound upposition, until the main spring has run down.

Main spring 52 is secured to a journal shaft at 52a, and to springhousing 43 at 52b.

The spring housing 43 is turned by main spring 52 a single revolutionduring each operation, and is connected by gear means 61 and 62 with themeasuring drum 1 so that the same performs the number of revolutionsnecessary for dispensing a certain length of weft thread. The dispensingdevice has control means, as follows:

A stop 55 is provided on the spring housing 43 and includes a stop roll74 cooperating with a stop book 57 as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 13. Stophook 57 is pivotally connected with one arm of a double-armed lever 53whose other end is attached to the catch and return spring 45. Stops 58and 60 limit the movement of the double-armed lever 53, the upper stop58 determining the terminal stop,

position of stop hook 57 for each dispensing operation, while the lowerstop 69 determines the position of stop hook 57 before stopping adispensing movement.

FIG. 6 illustrates a dispensing device and its control means in anintermediate position which is at the same time the starting positionbefore the beginning of a dispensing operation. Stop hook 57 holds stoproll 74 and spring housing 43 against the action of main spring 52. Whenrelease rod 56 is operated in the direction of the arrow, stop hook 57releases stop roll 74 so that doublearmed lever 53 with stop hook 57 areturned by spring 45 to engage stop while spring housing 43 is driven bymain spring 52 to cause a rapid rotation of measuring drum 1 throughgears 61 and 62. Return stop arm 54 is pushed aside by roll 74.

After a little less than one revolution of the spring housing, stop hook57 is again engaged by roll 74 and is taken along due to the inertia ofthe measuring drum which is braked, until engages stop 58 ofdouble-armed lever 53 whereby the spring housing and thereby themeasuring drum 1 are stopped, while arresting lever 59 snaps .under stop55, due to spring 59a, as shown in FIG. 5. In this position, the returnspring 45 is tensioned, and a measured length of weft thread has beendispensed, including a piece of weft thread extending from nozzle 5 tothe edge of the fabric.

When the weft has been beaten into the fell of the fabric, the weftthread is cut off at the edge of the fabric and at the outermost warpthread by cutting device 51, shown in FIG. 4. A guide thread 71, whichis controlled by a loom part, guides the weft thread to the cutting device 51.

When the slay performs its return movement arresting lever 59 is pulledoff stop 55 by a release hook 48 displaced by a small roll 47 on thebreast roll, so that return spring 45 turns the dispensing device anddrum 1 against the action of the main spring 52 in the oppositedirection until stop 55 abuts the spring-loaded return stop arm 54. Dueto this opposite rotation, measuring drum 1 draws the cut off end of thedispensed weft thread from cutting means 51 and the edge of the fabricback to the nozzle outlet. At the same time, release hook 48 is raisedout of the region of roll 47 so that the dispensing device is again inits initial position shown in FIG. 6.

The distance which the Weft thread is retracted toward the nozzle, canbe adjusted by adjustment of the return stop arm 54 toward or away fromstop 55.

As long as the weft thread has not been retracted, the dispensing deviceis locked by a stop screw 73 shown in FIG. 5 against which the stop hook57 abuts to prevent an undesired release of the dispensing device atthis moment.

The start of a dispensing operation by the forward rotation of the drum1, takes place simultaneously with the operation of the bellows 21 whichis tensioned by a spring 16 acting on a member 17 pivoted at 19. In theinitial position, compression of the bellows 21 is prevented since alocking lever 13 engages roll 18 on member 17.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the entire device is mounted on the slay,and reciprocates with the same. An actuating hooli. member 14 isturnably mounted on pivoted member 17, and cooperates with a bolt 15mounted on the frame of the loom so that the bellows 21 is againexpanded when the slay moves forward and member 14 is hooked to bolt 15and prevents movement of member 17 with the slay. The outlet means 22 ofbellows 21 is connected by a hose 3 and a sleeve with nozzle 5, as shownin FIGS. 1 and 7. The guide sheet 66 controls and guides together withplate 67 the weft 27 to prevent entanglement in the event that the weftthread is supplied too rapidly.

A starting impulse is given by a shuttle 72 arriving at the shuttle boxand displacing a tongue 109 on which a forked part 12b on one endportion of a sensing lever 12 rests so that lever 12 is angularlydisplaced about pivot 12a of a universal joint. An adjustable abutmentmember 10 is provided which shifts a hook member 9 to startthedispensing device through a lever and the release rod 56 as describedwith reference to FIGS. and 6, when shifted by the displaced tongue 109.The other end of the turned sensing lever 12 raises through lever 20,link 23, lever 25 and link 24 the actuating hook member 14 of thebellows to release bolt 15 so that pivoted member 17 is released, andthe bellows 21 blow air into nozzle 5. The end of lever 12 also engagesthe vertical arm of the bellcrank lever 13 and turns the same aboutpivot 13a so that the horizontal locking arm of lever 13 is raised outof the path of roller 18.

Since sensing lever 12 moves up and down with the shuttle boxes, it ismounted in a universal joint, and has part-circular end portions.

A handle 11 is provided for turning the pivoted forked part 12b ofsensing lever 12 to an inoperative position which permits the manualinsertion of a shuttle into the upper shuttle box without actuation ofthe dispensing device and air pressure supplying means 21. The operationis started after insertion of the shuttle into the shuttle box, byturning the end portion of sensing lever 12 back to its sensing positionembracing tongue 109.

When the dispensing device is stopped, it is necessary to maintain theweft thread in tensioned position, and to prevent the feeding of anadditional length of thread due to inertia. The portion of the weftthread between the supply spindle package 33 and the dispensing drum 1is loaded by a ring-shaped weight 29. This weight is also operative totake up slack when the measuring drum 1 performs a turning movement forwithdrawing the weft thread. A U-shaped member 28 is mounted on theframe portion 31 and supports two rods 30 extending at a very smallangle to each other. Ring 29 surrounds rods 30, and slides along thesame due to the action of gravity. The weft thread 27 from spindlepackages 33 or 34, passes through an eye of a holder 32, over the threadbrake 26, between rods 30 and through ring 29 to the dispensing deviceso that the weft thread is guided in a direction transverse to thedirection of oscillation of the slay which results in the leastinfluence of the reciprocating slay on the thread letoff from thespindle package 33 or 34.

Referring now to the loom illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 15, a dispensingdevice is provided on the left side and on the right side of the loom,and the dispensing devices are mounted on the frame. Since the shuttleboxes oscillate with the reciprocating slay, a flexible hose 100connects the stationary dispensing devices with the nozzle 89 which ismounted on the shuttle box. The weft thread dispensed from thedispensing device is stored temporarily in hose 100 which thusconstitutes a storage device for the thread. An axiliary nozzle 88 isarranged at the dispensing device, and blows the weft thread into thehose 100 which is provided with perforations permitting the air toescape, while the weft thread is transported to the main nozzle 89, andfrom there inserted into the empty shuttle arriving at the shuttle box.The part of the weft thread which is still in the hose when the shuttletravels through the shed, is pulled out of the hose by the shuttle.

- FIG. 11 shows a stored thread portion 101 in hose 100. Nozzle 88inserts an additional thread portion into the hose until the measuringdrum stops, while nozzle 89, which started to blow 1% turns of the mainshaft later, has started to blow the weft thread into the shuttle, andat the same time pulls the weft thread out of the hose so that theamount of thread stored in the hose decreases although additional threadis supplied from the dispensing device. Consequently, during the pick,the entire stored weft thread is drawn out from the hose, unless themeasshaft.

uring drum stops before that. Nozzles 88, 89 are constructed as shownfor nozzle 5 in FIG. 7 and have inner thread-guiding parts and outerannular air passages communicating with an air supply pipe 99.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 to 15, the measuring of the weftthread is not started at the beginning of the insertion of the weftthread into the shuttle, but al ready when the cut off end of the weftthread is withdrawn, and directly after the beat of the first pickedweft of the length of weft thread previously measured and dispensed.

For this purpose, the stop book 57 carries a roll 81 which urges througha member the stop hook 57 away from roll74 when the thread is pulledback, so that directly after abutment of stop 55 on the return stop arm54, the dispensing operation is started. Consequently, the rearwardmovement of the dispensing drum 1, which has just started in theposition of FIG. 12, will immediately be followed by the next dispensingand measuring operation.

The dispensing device illustrated in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 operates insubstantially the same manner as the dispensing device described withreference to FIGS. 4, 5, 6,, 13 and 14. The wind-up spring 46 istensioned by a band 79 guided over a pulley 76, see FIGS. 13 and 14,which may be pulled in downward direction by an arm, not shown, mountedin the region of the turning axis of the slay when the slay movesforward. During the return movement of the slay, the arm is released sothat spring 46 turns the belt pulley 76 with bracket 77 and pawl 7 whichshifts ratchet wheel 75 to wind-up the main spring 52 which is hooked atone end into the hollow shaft 78 of ratchet wheel 75.

The retraction of the weft thread from the cutting device to the nozzle,which starts the next dispensing operation, is controlled by a cam 98from the crank- Cam 98 acts through levers 97 and 96 on the small lever85. However, the upper end of lever 96 reaches lever only after theshuttle has left its initial position. As long as a shuttle is inshuttle box, it urges the tongue 109' outwardly to a position in whichthe tongue extension 10% blocks sensing lever 94, as shown in FIG. 11,and does not permit spring 96a, which engages a flange on pin 93, tomove pin 93 to an operative position, since sensing lever 94 isconnected by a Bowden :cable to stop pin 93. When the shuttle box isempty, tongue 109' can move inwardly when spring 96a moves pin 93 to theoperative position shown in FIG. 12.

Tongues 109' are mounted in windows 1090 of the shuttle boxes forpivotal movement on a pivot pin 109a. The small lever 85 which ispivotally connected to arresting lever 59, is connected by link 84through doublearmed lever 53 with stop hook 57 so that it can assume anoperative position only if the preceding dispensing operation has beencompleted.

The position of the elements in FIG. 12 corresponds to the moment inwhich the arresting lever 59 has been pushed away from the stop 55 ofthe spring housing 43 so that the return spring 45 starts to turn thedevice in rearward direction through double-armed lever 53 and hookmember 57.

The position of FIG. 11 shows the last part of the operation of thedispensing device, shortly before stop roll 74 has moved into the regionof the stop hook 57. Lever 85 is in an inoperative position, and theshuttle is still in the initial position so that the abutment pin 93 isretracted, so that no operation can be started in this position.Consequently, the operation can only be started when the precedingoperation has been fully completed, and the shuttle with the measuredlength of dispensed weft thread has moved out of the starting position.

The pressure air is taken through a hose 99 from a source of compressedair having a pressure of between 0.01 and 0.1 mm. Suitable valves areprovided in hose 99, and a pump may produce the compressed air.

' may be obtained by a suitable vibrating valve.

The control of the valve 86 for the nozzle 88 is effected by a controlportion 83 cooperating with the doublearmed lever 53 which opens valve86 at the start of the rotation of the measuring drum. When themeasuring drum stops, valve 86 is closed. Member 83 includes a brakepart 82 which brakes double-armed lever 83 in its end positions shortlybefore engagement with stops 58 and 60.

Valve 87 for nozzle 89 is opened by a sensing portion 90 engaged byportion 91 of the shuttle when the same arrives at the shuttle box andis stopped. A spring closes valve 87, in an action which is delayed bysmall pneumatic cylinder and piston means 92, so that the time duringwhich insertion of the weft thread into the shuttle takes place can beadjusted.

The force of the nozzle may be increased, if the pressure air issupplied in a vibrating or pulsating condition, Wlgilgl] e shock wavesin the air act in the nozzle like the pistons of a cylinder which driveair out of a tube and produce suction between the pressure waves so thata greater force is exerted on the thread.

The thread brake before the ring weight 29, and its guides 30, isconstructed as a V-shaped grid-like structure which, together with ring29 compensates differences in tension of the thread which may be causedby empty or full spindle packages. In accordance with the tension of thethread, ring 29 pulls the thread more or less down between the crossingfingers of the thread brake 26', and when the thread is greatlytensioned at the beginning of the dispensing operation, it is raisedabove the thread brake so that the same is not effective.

When the measuring drum stops, the ring weight 29 pulls an excess of theweft thread into the weft brake 26' so that no additional thread can bedrawn from the spindle package during the return movement of themeasuring drum when the'ring weight 29 drops lower.

The cutting devices which are necessary at both edges of the fabric forcutting the weft threads, each compr se a cutting knife 102, and apressure member 103 which are mounted on a common shaft directly behindthe upper edge of the reed, and on the slay. The cutting devices areadvanced to an operative position only when the reed performs thebeating operation, which is accomplished by a suitable small chain 108whose length can be adjusted. The presser member 103 presses the threadagainst a leather abutment 104 which is mounted onthe fabric holder sothat the knife 102 cuts the thread held between pressure member 103 andfabric edge in a groove 104 of the fabric holder, or tears the thread.

The weft threads connected to the shuttle carrying thread for the returnpick, are guided downward by a guide thread 106, appearing as a dot inthe drawing, and consequently guided away from the knife 102 and thepressure member 103. The guide thread 1061s raised and lowered by asuitable shaft, not shown, or by the motion of the shuttle box. A weftthread 107 is shown which has just been beaten up and woven into thefabric, while a shed just opens.

FIGS. 2, 3, 8, 9, 10 and illustrate embodiments of shuttles which areadvantageously used in the loom of the present invention for carryingout the method of the present invention. The shuttle shown in FIG. 3 hasan insert with a channel 40 whose inner front wall is constructed as abrush for the thread, while the opposite wall is smooth and curved insuch a manner that the weft thread, when blown into the shuttle, slidesalong the smooth surface due to the action of the centrifugal forcewithout engaging the brush surface. On the other hand, when the weftthread is drawn out during the travel of the shuttle, -it is smoothed byengagement with the brush wall. The bottom of the channel 40 isparticularly at one end higher than the bottom of the shuttle 38, whichis constructed as a sieve or grid, so that portion 37 of the threadstorage chamber is located directly below the end of the inlet channelend, whereby an ejection of the thread due to the shock of the shuttlearriving in the shuttle box is prevented. The inlet channel is coveredby downwardly bent cover of plexiglass. A shuttle eye 39 guides thethread. A sieve 36, or a grid, closes the thread storage chamber on top.On the left and right side of the inlet opening 41, thread brushes 42are provided.

FIG. 9 shows a modified shuttle in which sufficient space is providedfor the weft thread, so that layers of the thread slip the to the shockof the stop shuttle in such a manner that the pulled out thread isalternately drawn into the two thread brake slots 68 to which slantedguide edges 69 lead located on opposite sides of the inlet opening 41 inthe front double wall 70. FIG. 8 is a section of the shuttle shown inFIG. 9, clearly showing the sieve-like or grid-like bottom 38. FIG. 10illustrates the cross section of the shuttle of FIG. 9.

FIG. 15 illustrates a shuttle capable of receiving the inserted threadin such a manner that the thread cannot become entangled, and is easilypulled out without forming any loops.

This is accomplished by an inlet channel having the form of a fiattapered elongated spiral and having a narrow portion 115 partlysurrounding an air permeable sieve-like wall 113 which extends around anelongated outlet 112. The leading thread end is lightly clamped in thenarrow portion when blown in, and is pulled out again after the portionof the thread located in the wider chamber 114 has been pulled out insmooth and straight condition.

The inlet channel with the thread storage chamber 114 is closed by aplexiglass cover 111 which is attached by screws 110. The upper airoutlet opening 112 is opened in the plexiglass cover. Behind the inletopening of the shuttle, and on the inner side of the wider portion ofthe inlet channel, a self-threading thread guide 116 is provided intowhich the thread is always safely threaded during the first pick, andwhere the thread is braked and stretched when pulled out during thesecond pick due to the portion thereof curving about the thread guide116 and the wall 118. A self-threading thread guide eye 117 assures thateven the outermost end of the thread runs out in smooth and stretchedcondition during the second pick. The dotted line (a) indicates the pathof the thread leaving the shuttle during the first pick, and the line(b) illustrates the path of the thread during the second pick.

Looms according to the present invention can be operated withcomparatively small and flat shuttles, and can consequently be equippedwith shorter shaft motions, slay motions and shuttle box motions, whichpermits the operation of the loom at a number of picks which cannot beattained by conventional looms.

When the loom of FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 is operated at the maximum numberof revolutions, during the 3.5 revolutions of the crankshaft which areavailable for the dispensing operation, the dispensing operation canstill be carried out in a manner which will not fray or damage the weftthread, or wear out the dispensing device.

The pneumatic insertion of the weft thread into the shuttle can be veryrapidly accomplished without any wear on the weft thread, particularlysince the stored thread portion in hose is always laid in tight loopsand curves in the vicinity of nozzle 89 so that even highly twistedyarns have no space to untwist and to become entangled.

Furthermore, only a little more than half of the measured length of weftthread has to be inserted into the shuttle, since the part of the weftthread which has not been inserted into the shuttle, is blown out of andthrough the storage hose 100 until the weft thread extends in stretchedcondition through nozzle 89 and hose 100 to the measuring drum, whichhas been stopped in the meantime to determine the measured length of the'dispensed thread portion.

When the measured weft length is placed in the shed during the travel ofthe shuttle, the weft thread is not Worn or unduly tensioned, since onlya very small tension under uniform conditions is applied to the weft,without the great differences in the tension and weight which areunavoidable when shuttles are operated in conventional looms. Due to thefact that the condition of shuttle travel remain always the same, theloom can be operated at higher speed.

The weft inserting method of the present invention I permits the weavingwith threads having two different colors, for example a black and a grayweft can be alternately inserted, or two gray Wefts may follow two blackwefts. It is also possible to alternate one gray, one black with twogray and two black wefts. It is also possible to weave into the fabrican extra thread of a particular bright color in which event on eitherside of the loom a third shuttle box is provided for one or two othershuttles.

A four col-or weave of the basic fabric is accomplished by providing oneither side of the loom two dispensing devices with correspondingnozzles for the weft insertion.

Since a weft thread is inserted through two sheds, portions ofalternating wefts are located alternately on the edges of the fabric, sothat a sufficiently strong ,selvedge is formed.

An apparatus according to the present invention forms a a complete unitwhich can be mounted on a conventional loom with shuttle boxes withoutany exchange of parts. For example, in the embodiment of FIGS. 11 and12, only two hoses, a belt, a Bowden cable, and a light red to thecontrol cam have to be provided.

If a loom is built in accordance with the present invention, standardparts of conventional looms can be used during the manufacture. However,it is advantageous to construct the loom in such a manner that very flatand comparatively small shuttles can be used, since the shuttletransports only a length of weft as required for two picks.Corresponding shorter slay and shuttle box movements can be provided.Looms which do not perform more than 150 cycles per minute, do notrequire the premeasuring and the storing in the hose 100, andconsequently one nozzle can be eliminated, and only the nozzle 88.isrequired from which a non-perforated hose leads to the shuttle box inwhich the shuttle blow 'line terminates. In this embodiment, the threadend can be drawn deeply into the hose. When the thread is blown into theshuttle, the preceding thread end has already a higher speed whenentering the narrowed portion of the shuttle channel, which facilitatesan improved reinsertion.

In order to make use of this advantage also in the construction of FIGS.11 and 12, where the thread is stored in the hose, the nozzle pipe ofnozzle 89 is preferably made longer than the tubular end portion ofnozzle 88, in which event the return stop arm 54 of the dispensingdevice can be omitted, since it is not necessary to control the rearwardmovement of the drum in such an exact manner.

The dispensing device may also be constructed to be driven by anelectric motor instead of by a spring motor, in which event the shaft 78serves only as a control shaft which effects the connection anddisconnection of the drive motor, whereas the return rotation isaccomplished by the return spring which is tensioned as explained above.The control of the dispensing device may also be carried out byelectromagnetic means.

The thread guide of the dispensing device may be oscillated by a camprovided on the spring housing, not shown, so that the thread moves inaxial direction along the surface of the measuring drum to prevent theformation of a groove in the surface coating of the measuring drum.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofweft inserting arrangements differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in aweaving method according to which the shuttle carries only apredetermined length of the weft thread, it is not intended to belimited to the details shown, since various modifications and structuralchanges may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of thepresent invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior :art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A weaving method comprising the steps of dispensing from a supply ofweft thread located on ane side of a warp shed a measured length of weftthread corresponding to twice the width of the warp shed; blowing themeasured length into a storage means to store the same, and then blowingatleast a part of the stored measured length of the weft thread into ahollow shuttle; moving the shuttle from said one side of the shed to theother side of the shed while holding said weft thread on said one sideof the shed so that the portion of said measured length still stored insaid storage means forms a pick in said shed; cutting said weft threadon said one side; and moving the shuttle through a warp shed from saidother side to said one side so that said part of said measured length isdrawn out of the shuttle and forms another pick in another shed.

2. A pneumatic loom comprising a dispensing device for dispensing ameasured length of weft thread, when actuated including anintermittently rotating measuring drum, and thread supply means forsupplying thread to said drum so that a thread is wound up on said drumand a measured length of thread is dispensed during turning movement ofsaid drum; a hollow shuttle; pressure nozzle means for blowing at leastpart of the measured length into said shuttle, said shuttle having atapered perforated channel for holding the end of the thread; means forguiding the measured length of thread from said drum to said nozzlemeans; means for supporting said dispensing device, said nozzle means,and the shuttle on one side of the loom and of warp sheds formed on theloom; and means for sensing an empty shuttle at said one side of theloom, and operatively connected to said dispensing device to actuate thesame when sensing an empty shuttle.

3. A pneumatic loom comprising a dispensing device for dispensing ameasured length of weft thread, when actuated including a rotarymeasuring drum, and means 7 for supplying a thread to said drum; ahollow shuttle;

pressure nozzle means for blowing part of the measured length into saidshuttle; cutting means for cutting a thread carried by said'shuttleduring a pick and spaced a predetermined distance from said nozzlemeans; control means for first turning said drum in one direction fordispensing a measured length of the thread to said nozzle and shuttle,and for then turning said drum in the opposite direction for windingback a part of said thread having a length substantially equal to saiddistance so that the thread end is located at said nozzle pressure airsupply means for supplying air under pressure to said nozzle means;means for supporting said dispensing device, said nozzle means, and theshuttle on one side of the loom and of warp sheds formed on the loom;and means for sensing an empty shuttle at said one side of the loom, andoperatively connected to said control means of said dispensing device,and operatively connected to said pressure air supply means to actuatethe same when sensing an empty shuttle.

4. A pneumatic loom comprising a dispensing device for dispensing ameasured length of weft thread, when actuated including a rotarymeasuring drum, and means for supplying a thread to said drum; a hollowshuttle; pressure nozzle means for blowing at least part of the measuredlength into said shuttle; cutting means for cutting a thread carried bysaid shuttle during a pick and spaced a predetermined distance from saidnozzle means; control means for first turning said drum in one directionfor dispensing a measured length of the thread to said nozzle andshuttle, and for then turning said drum inthe opposite direction forWinding back a part of said thread having a length substantially equalto said distance so that the thread end is located at said nozzle; areciprocating slay; bellow means operated by said reciprocating slay;conduit means including valve means connecting said bellow means withsaid nozzle means for supplying air under pressure to said nozzle means;means for supporting said dispensing device, said nozzle means, and theshuttle on one side of the loom and of warp sheds formed on the loom;and means for sensing an empty shuttle at said one side of the loom, andoperatively connected to said control means of said dispensing device,and operatively connected to said valve means, and operatively connectedto said bellow means to actuate the same when sensing an empty shuttle.

5. A pneumatic loom comprising a dispensing device for dispensing ameasured length of Weft thread, when actuated including a rotarymeasuring drum, and means for supplying a thread to said drum; a hollowshuttle; pressure nozzle means for blowing at least part of the measuredlength into said shuttle; cutting means for cutting a threadcarried bysaid shuttle during a pick and spaced a predetermined distance from saidnozzle means; control means for first turning said drum in one directionfor dispensing a measured length of the thread to said nozzle andshuttle, and for then turning said drum in the opposite direction forwinding back a part of said thread having a length substantially equalto said distance so that the thread end is located at said nozzle; framemeans for supporting said dispensing device on one side of the loom;reciprocating slay means for supporting said nozzle means and theshuttle on said one side of the loom and of warp sheds formed on theloom; hose means connecting said dispensing device with said nozzlemeans for guiding and storing a part of the measured length of thread;and means for sensing an empty shuttle at said one side of the loom andoperatively connected to said control means of said dispensing device toactuate the same when sensing an empty shuttle. I

6. A pneumatic loom comprising a dispensing device for dispensing ameasured length of weft thread, when actuated including anintermittently rotating measuring drum, and thread supply means forsupplying thread to said drum so that a thread is wound up on said drumand a measured length of thread is dispensed during turning movement ofsaid drum; a hollow shuttle; pressure nozzle means for blowing at leastpart of the measured length into said shuttle; means for guiding themeasured length of thread from said drum tosaid nozzle means; framemeans for supporting said dispensing device on one side of the loom;reciprocating slay means for supporting said nozzle means and theshuttle on said one side of the loom and of warp sheds formed on theloom; hose means connecting said dispensing device with said nozzlemeans for guiding and storing the measured length of thread; othernozzle means for blowing the weft thread into said hose means; and meansfor sensing an empty shuttle at said one side of the loom andoperatively connected to said dispensing device to actuate the same whensensing an empty shuttle.

7. A pneumatic loom as set forth in claim 3 wherein said dispensingdevice includes a spring-motor; said measuring drum being driven by saidmotor, said motor including a spring housing mounted for turningmovement; and said control means having a stop, a stop hook cooperatingwith said stop, a return stop arm cooperating With said stop, aspring-loaded double-armed lever pivotally connected with said stophook, and means for moving said stop hook away from said stop.

8. A pneumatic loom comprising a dispensing device for dispensing ameasured length of weft thread, when actuated, said dispensing deviceincluding a rotary measuring drum, means for turning said drum in onedirection to dispense a measured length of weft thread corresponding totwo picks and an additional piece of weft thread extending between saidnozzle means and the edge of the fabric; cutting means for cutting theWeft thread at the edge of the fabric; means for effecting turning ofsaid drum in the opposite direction to draw said additional piece ofweft from said cutting means to said nozzle; a shuttle pressure nozzlemeans for blowing at least part of the measured length into saidshuttle; means for guidingthe measured length of thread from said drumto said nozzle means; means for supporting said dispensing device, saidnozzle means, and the shuttle on one side of the loom and of warp shedsformed on the loom; and means for sensing an empty shuttle at said oneside of the loom and operatively connected to said dispensing device toactuate the same when sensing an empty shuttle.

9. A shuttle having a channel in the form of an elongated spiral adaptedto hold a length of weft thread, said channel gradually tapering from awider outer portion to a narrower inner portion, and being partly formedby air-permeable walls permitting escape of air When a weft thread isblown into said channel whereby the thread is wedged in said graduallytapering channel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 795,250 7/1905Cox 139-127 1,721,9 0 7/1929 Ballou 139-127 2,668,560 2/1954 Svaty139-127 2,770,261 11/1956 Turner 139--126 2,902,058 9/1956 Walton 139126FOREIGN PATENTS 1,237,034 6/ 1960 France. 1,261,463 4/1961 France.

860,167 2/1961 Great Britain.

174,387 2/1961 Sweden.

DONALD W. PARKER, Primary Examiner.

RUSSELL C. MADER, Examiner.

J. KEE CHI, Assistant Examiner.

1. A WEAVING METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF DISPENSING FROM A SUPPLY OFWEFT THREAD LOCATED ON ONE SIDE OF A WARP SHED A MEASURED LENGTH OF WEFTTHREAD CORRESPONDING TO TWICE THE WIDTH OF THE WARP SHED; BLOWING THEMEASURED LENGTH INTO A STORAGE MEANS TO STORE THE SAME, AND THEN BLOWINGAT LEAST A PART OF THE STORED MEASURED LENGTH OF THE WEFT THREAD INTO AHOLLOW SHUTTLE; MOVING THE SHUTTLE FROM SAID ONE SIDE OF THE SHED TO THEOTHER SIDE OF THE SHED WHILE HOLDING SAID WEFT THREAD ON SAID ONE SIDEOF THE SHED SO THAT THE PORTION OF SAID MEASURED LENGTH STILL STORED INSAID STORAGE MEANS FORMS A PICK IN SAID SHED; CUTTING SAID WEFT THREADON SAID ONE SIDE; AND MOVING THE SHUTTLE THROUGH A WARP SHED FROM SAIDOTHER SIDE TO SAID ONE SIDE SO THAT SAID PART OF SAID MEASURED LENGTH ISDRAWN OUT OF THE SHUTTLE AND FORMS ANOTHER PICK IN ANOTHER SHED.